New York, NY, April 3, 2015 — The METROPOLITAN COLLEGE OF NEW YORK School for Business Media Management MBA Program is proud to announce its collaboration with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to provide training, as part of the MCNY 6th Annual Short Film Festival (April 9-10, 2015), to School’s Out New York City (SONYC) middle school participants. The training will assist young people in developing and producing their inaugural SONYC REEL eXposure Film Festival.
Every year, graduate students organizing the MCNY Annual Short Film Festival invite and highlight the work of New York City youth who are using film and other visual media to address today’s social issues. This year, the MCNY Media Management MBA Program added an educational component to the Festival by working with the SONYC program to provide two intensive five-day workshops on the fundamentals of film creation and the process of developing their own event – The SONYC REEL eXposure Film Festival.
The SONYC REEL eXposure Film Festival will be a one-day event celebrating the creative efforts of SONYC participants. Modeled on the MCNY Annual Short Film Festival, it will provide a platform for student filmmakers to express themselves on today’s social, community and other issues ‘through the lens’ of young filmmakers. Participants will work actively with industry professionals and DYCD staff in judging and screening the films in competition.
“We are excited to welcome youth from around the City to MCNY, where the Media Management MBA faculty, students and alumni involved in producing our own Annual Short Film Festival will provide comprehensive training on all aspects of making a short film including conceptualizing the idea, set and camera work, lighting, sound and editing,” said Program Director Kristie Velasco. “It is inspiring to see our students and alumni nurturing the next generation of film and content creators. This is a true manifestation of this year’s festival theme of Converging Futures. We look forward to working with DYCD and SONYC to train their young participants and develop a process for them to launch a film festival that is as successful as our own.”
“As the agency overseeing the largest expansion of afterschool for middle school students in the City’s history, we recognize the strong role creative arts programming plays in engaging, active learning,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong. “SONYC, the Summer Youth Employment Program and other DYCD‑funded initiatives are exposing our youth to career and educational opportunities at our City’s cultural institutions. We are excited that young people will learn filmmaking skills through this collaboration with Metropolitan College of New York, and look forward to seeing their finished works at the REEL eXposure Film Festival.”
In the Media Management MBA Program, the goal is to provide students with all of the necessary business competencies, skills and knowledge of an MBA while never losing sight of their responsibilities as members of the larger society. In prior years, the MCNY Annual Short Film Festival has highlighted media work done by students from the Children’s Aid Society, Girls for Gender Equity and the Urban Actors Academy.
The MCNY 6th Annual Short Film Festival will take place on April 9 and 10 from 6-9:30 pm at 431 Canal Street, New York. Additional information about the festival, including winning films from prior years, is available on our website at www.mcny.edu/filmfestival. Tickets for both nights can be obtained at http://www.eventbrite.com/o/mcny-school-for-business-media-management-mba-program-7990335544?s=34512629.
ABOUT MCNY
Founded in 1964 by educational pioneer Audrey Cohen, Metropolitan College of New York has been dedicated to helping students achieve their academic dreams for over 50 years. The only one of its kind in the country, the one-year ACBSP accredited Master of Business Administration in Media Management at MCNY is a unique Purpose Centered Education program geared towards achievement-oriented, media professionals. The curriculum balances traditional MBA competencies with those particular to the media industry. To accommodate working professionals, classes meet on evenings and weekends. For more information about MCNY or the MBA Media Management program visit us at www.mcny.edu or call 1-800-33-THINK.
ABOUT SONYC
SONYC is part of DYCD’s Comprehensive Afterschool System of NYC (COMPASS NYC). SONYC serves as a pathway to success for youth in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Structured like clubs, the model offers young people a choice in how they spend their time; provides rigorous instruction in sports and arts; and requires youth leadership through service. The City itself becomes a classroom through trips and opportunities for instruction beyond a traditional learning setting. Programs are offered three hours each day, five days per week. Through its network of providers, COMPASS offers high quality programs that offer a strong balance of academics, recreation, enrichment and cultural activities to support and strengthen the overall development of youth.
For Immediate Release:
CONTACT: Prof. Kristie Velasco (917) 719-0293 mediamanagement@metropolitan.edu or kvelasco@metropolitan.edu
Yexenia (Jessie) Markland | Manager of Partnerships & Special Initiatives
COMPREHENSIVE AFTERSCHOOL SYSTEM OF NYC (COMPASS-NYC)
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
2 Lafayette Street l 21st floor l New York NY 10007
T: (646) 343-6156 C: 929-271-0622 E: ymarkland@dycd.nyc.gov
